12th Congress

1. The 12th Congress of the Panafrican Association of Catholic Exegetes (PACE) took place at the Centre Catholique Nganda, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from September 4th to 10th 2005, with the theme, Human Wisdom and Divine Wisdom in the Bible: Biblical Readings in the Context of the Church as Family of God in Africa. The Congress was held in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Dei Verbum, and in honour of His Excellency Monsignor Laurent MONSENGWO PASINYA, the Archbishop of Kisangani and founder member of PACE, on the occasion of the silver jubilee of his Episcopal ordination. There were a total of fifty participants drawn from nine countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Nigeria, South Africa, Chad and United States of America.

Sessions

2. The opening Mass was celebrated on Sunday, September 4th in St Albert Parish, under the presidency of Msgr Laurent MONSENGWO. The homily was delivered by Msgr Cornelius ESUA, Archbishop Coadjutor of Bamenda and president of PACE. The Nuntio, Archbishop Giovanni D’ANIELLO, Mr. Arthur Z’AHIDI NGOMA, Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other government members, as well Imam Abdallah of the Islamic Community of Kinshasa were present at this Mass. After this Eucharistic celebration, the Bishops’ Conference (Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo [CENCO]) offered a festive dinner to some of her guests, of whom all the present members of the PACE, celebrating so the 25 years of episcopate of Msgr Laurent MONSENGWO, being also President of the CENCO.

Sessions

3. The sessions began on Monday, September 5th, 2005. His Excellency Msgr Dominique BULAMATARI, auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa, welcomed the assembly on behalf of Card. ETSOU. He presented the Archdiocese of Kinshasa and its programme in Biblical apostolate. Then, the president of PACE made the opening speech, and the Secretary General presented the theme. A total of twenty five papers followed with very constructive critical discussions.